If you do prune your plumeria and are interested in trading cuttings, let me know. I don't have plumerias to trade. Have some orchids, fruit trees, other garden plants, etc. I live in San Mateo, ca.

Plumerias can take a lot of pruning. I've heard of people cutting it back within 1 foot of the ground with no problem. I'd be more conservative than that, but you probably can get away with cutting back about 12 inches above where the tree branch divides that you actually want to keep. Cut off as many as you feel comfortable with, leave a few if you are worried.

The inch or two next to the cut will ooze a lot then dry up and shrink. Under that shriveled area, the leaf nodes will swell and eventually leaf tips will pop out to start new branches.

Not sure what is being asked but I will offer my best interpretation. If your plan is to prune back the plant then yes you can cut every branch if you wanted to but you run a few risks.

1. it's unlikely to bloom this year if you cut all branches. You could cut some this year and then still have some chance of blooms. I have done some in phases and have just bit the bullet on others and cut everything.

2. the cut area may die back further. Some varieties are prone to do this even if best practices were used.

3. it may only grow one tip from the cut area or worse it may not grow any. Proper pruning techniques can help mitigate the risk

4. the cut is or can be ugly for a few years. again proper pruning can help mitigate but not prevent.

5. Use the right cutting tool. I generally do not use snips or sheers and prefer to use a thin kerf type of hand saw for older branches and a razor type blade for small green branches. I think snips and sheers can pinch and damage the area even more.

Please don't interpret this as advice not to prune. I do it all the time but just be aware of what you are doing and have a plan in mind.

If you are at the point which you cannot move the plant and think you just need to get it out of your way then take a cutting of it and start it over again and consider giving the plant to a local botanical garden which may have the capacity to use it. Of course also consider selling it.

Thank you, everyone, for the very helpful inputs, some of the branches have leaves and some have inflos., should I cut the ones still dormant?

Always grateful,

Annamaria(S.F. Mid. Pen.)